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Troop Transport

I've been trying to come up with a project I would like to actually finish. This might be the one. Built in Sketchup and rendered out with Kerk. It's fairly original not really based on any one universe. Let me know what you think...

I'd say more of a liberty ship type craft from the looks of it. Those boarding ramps/tubes are major choke points allowing only what 1 or 2 guys out at a time, plus that is a heck of run to go down to "hit the beach."

Looking at it again, I added small craft carrying capabilities. With 4 bays in the undercarriage, and toying with the thought of additional craft service space topside. It could become a Mobile Ops Center, or maybe a self contained Mobile Hospital unit?

I really like the mobile hospital unit over all. I would put big landing jacks close to the ends of the landing legs, going up into the hull, as right now you have a large amount of bending force that would be applied to the landing legs as it is. The lower bays look great.

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I really like the mobile hospital unit over all. I would put big landing jacks close to the ends of the landing legs, going up into the hull, as right now you have a large amount of bending force that would be applied to the landing legs as it is. The lower bays look great.

Yeah, that's the idea, just working on over all structure, I was thinking of retractable gear, but I don't know if it needs them. I think if I go with the hospital I will definitely need better access to the ship from the ground.

Doesn't look like it would be able to move very fast in atmo, not with those big legs sticking out, nor does it look like it could handle reentry for the same reason. Exo-atm it would probably be fine. Same goes for the little hoppers, they don't look like they would handle well in atmo.

I think these craft (both large and small) would work fine in atmosphere, since it wouldn't need to move much faster than, say, a helicopter does. Would work best as a mobile command base, I think.

Those exit tubes look awfully small for exits. Perhaps enlarge them by 25 percent vertically, and double the width. That would give plenty of room for two people to pass each other to get inside. Also, a port every couple of meters on the tubes would probably be good, so that anyone moving through them wouldn't be blind to the situation outside. I also agree with Cavebear's assertion on the landing jacks, but I would make twin ones going to each leg, meeting at the foot itself and forming a V.

Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinded critics and philosophers of today. But the core of science fiction -- it's essence -- has become crucial to our salvation, if we are to be saved at all.

Thanks for all the input! The gear are now retractable, below is an example of both deployed and stowed. I made the gangways wider (now almost 10 feet wide by 7 feet tall.) also added a possible support configuration for the gangway/feet and view ports, I will still need to add lighting though. I think I pretty close to a finished configuration - now on to the fun stuff (Details! )